IRMA

Please note, as of 1 July 2023, the joint UOW & ISLHD HREC will separate and UOW will no longer review NSW Health ethics applications. From 1 July all NSW Health research should be submitted through REGIS to Greater Western HREC for review. For more information, please see NSW Health Applications.

NB: IRMA has moved behind the UOW firewall. If you are working remotely you will need to log in to the UOW VPN before you can access it.

IRMA is a web-based research management program for ethics. It is used for submitting, processing and reviewing ethics applications. Lodgement of applications and sign off by researchers and Heads of Units within UOW is electronic. Once the application is submitted all researchers are notified that the application is awaiting signoff; the Head of Unit is notified when all researchers have signed.

IRMA allows you to follow the progress of the sign off and the ethics review, and check on key dates such as when progress reports are due. You can also view your application and any correspondence from the HREC.

Submissions consist of three components:

• Information entered directly into IRMA. For new applications and annual reports this involves limited details to identify the project plus information required for government reporting.
• Attachments with project details. This includes the application form or research protocol, research tools, advertising material and informed consent documentation. To allow identification of documents in the online system it is important that each document is named using the format specified. (DocumentName VersionNumber Date (DDMMYYYY) e.g. PIS Children V1 01052015).
• An Attachment Listing
• Please note, when pressing submit, this is submitting the application for the electronic sign-off process. It is only once all signatures required have been actioned that the application is received in our office for processing. For this reason, please ensure you allow enough time for this to be completed before the agenda deadline.

Accessing IRMA

UOW staff and some students will have access to IRMA automatically using their UOW account number. Otherwise you will need to apply for access. Requests should be processed within two working days.

• Request access to IRMA for UOW Students 
• Request access to IRMA for UOW Staff
• Request access to IRMA for external parties 

Please Note: UOW accounts will be linked to UOW email addresses, all your correspondence will be sent to this address.

Training on IRMA

Training is provided on request for individuals or groups, please email uow-humanethics@uow.edu.au to discuss arranging a session for you or your work area.

IRMA guides

• User guide
• Step-by-Step Instructions

Video guides 

• Creating a new application (step 1) | Transcript
• Creating a new application (step 2) | Transcript
• Using templates | Transcript
• Adding an external investigator to the system | Transcript
• Application sign off | Transcript
• How to find existing applications | Transcript
• Responding to committee correspondence | Transcript
• Submitting amendments | Transcript
• Completing progress/final reports | Transcript

IRMA help

If you are having difficulties with the system please contact irma-support@uow.edu.au.

For any other questions please contact the Research Ethics Unit at uow-humanethics@uow.edu.au or on 4221 3773 or 4221 5504.